A system for, and method of, validating an interface of a dynamically linkable component, such that one dynamically linkable component can assess its interface compatibility with another. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a check code generator that transforms the interface of the dynamically linkable component into an interface identifier representing the interface and couples the interface identifier to the dynamically linkable component and (2) a interface verifier that employs the interface identifier to determine a compatibility of the dynamically linkable component.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A computer-based system for validating an interface of a dynamically linkable component, comprising: a check code generator that employs filtering directives to include or exclude textual interface information to transform said interface of said dynamically linkable component into an interface identifier representing said interface and couples said interface identifier to said dynamically linkable component; and an interface verifier that employs said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said interface of said dynamically linkable component by comparing said interface identifier with an interface identifier history list representing a history of modifications to said interface, said history list containing at least one member, wherein said check code generator transforms said interface of said dynamically linkable component into said interface identifier by transforming a textual representation of at least a portion of said interface.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said check code generator couples said interface identifier to said dynamically linkable component by placing said interface identifier in a types declaration file.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said interface identifier varies as a function of a version of said dynamically linkable component.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said interface verifier employs said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said dynamically linkable component with a second dynamically linkable component.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said interface verifier is a part of a second dynamically linkable component.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said history list contains at least two members.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said interface identifier is a type selected from the group consisting of: a check sum, and a cyclic redundancy check.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said filtering directives are configured to substantially avoid alpha and beta errors.
9. A computer-implemented method of validating an interface of a dynamically linkable component, comprising: employing filtering directives to include or exclude textual interface information to transform-said interface of said dynamically linkable component into an interface identifier representing said interface; coupling said interface identifier to said dynamically linkable component; and employing said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said interface of said dynamically linkable component by comparing said interface identifier with an interface identifier history list representing a history of modifications to said interface, said history list containing at least one member, wherein said employing is performed by a check code generator to transform said interface of said dynamically linkable component into said interface identifier by transforming a textual representation of at least a portion of said interface.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said coupling comprises placing said interface identifier in a types declaration file.
11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said interface identifier varies as a function of a version of said dynamically linkable component.
12. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said employing comprises employing said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said dynamically linkable component with a second dynamically linkable component.
13. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said interface verifier is a part of a second dynamically linkable component.
14. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said history list contains at least two members.
15. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said interface identifier is a type selected from the group consisting of: a check sum, and a cyclic redundancy check.
16. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said employing filtering directives substantially avoids alpha errors.
17. A computer-based system for validating an interface of a dynamically linkable component, comprising: an interface identifier, generated by filtering textual information present in said interface and coupled to said dynamically linkable component, that represents said interface of said dynamically linkable component; and an interface verifier that employs said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said interface of said dynamically linkable component by comparing said interface identifier with an interface identifier history list representing a history of modifications to said interface, said history list containing at least one member, wherein said generating is performed by a check code generator that transforms said interface of said dynamically linkable component into said interface identifier by transforming a textual representation of at least a portion of said interface.
18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said interface identifier is contained within a types declaration file.
19. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said interface identifier varies as a function of a version of said dynamically linkable component.
20. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said interface verifier employs said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said dynamically linkable component with a second dynamically linkable component.
21. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said interface verifier is a part of a second dynamically linkable component.
22. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said history list contains at least two members.
23. A computer-implemented method of validating an interface of a dynamically linkable component, comprising: generating an interface identifier by employing filtering directives to include or exclude textual information present in said interface; coupling said interface identifier to said dynamically linkable component; and employing said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said interface of said dynamically linkable component by comparing said interface identifier with an interface identifier history list representing a history of modifications to said interface, said history list containing at least one member, wherein generating is performed by a check code generator that transforms said interface of said dynamically linkable component into said interface identifier by transforming a textual representation of at least a portion of said interface.
24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said coupling comprises placing said interface identifier in a types declaration file.
25. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said interface identifier varies as a function of a version of said dynamically linkable component.
26. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said employing comprises employing said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said dynamically linkable component with a second dynamically linkable component.
27. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said interface verifier is a part of a second dynamically linkable component.
28. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said history list contains at least two members.
29. A real-time process control system, comprising: a plurality of sensors and controllable devices; a controller, coupled to said plurality of sensors and controllable devices, that executes software having at least first and second dynamically linkable components to coordinate an operation of said plurality of sensors and controllable devices; an interface identifier, generated by filtering textual information present in said interface and coupled to said first dynamically linkable component, that represents an interface of said first dynamically linkable component; and an interface verifier that employs said interface identifier to determine a compatibility of said interface of said first and second dynamically linkable components by comparing said interface identifier with a history list representing a history of modifications to said interface, said history list associated with said second dynamically linkable component and containing at least one member, wherein said generating is performed by a check code generator that transforms said interface of said dynamically linkable component into said interface identifier by transforming a textual representation of at least a portion of said interface.
30. The real-time process control system as recited in claim 29 wherein said interface identifier is contained within in a types declaration file.
31. The real-time process control system as recited in claim 29 wherein said interface identifier varies as a function of a version of said first dynamically linkable component.
32. The real-time process control system as recited in claim 29 wherein said interface verifier is a part of said second dynamically linkable component.
33. The real-time process control system as recited in claim 29 wherein said history list is associated with said second dynamically linkable component and contains at least two members.
34. The real-time process control system as recited in claim 29 wherein said interface identifier is a type selected from the group consisting of: a check sum, and a cyclic redundancy check.
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August 6, 1999
January 30, 2007
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